"All GED tests taken between 2002 and now will be replaced with zeroes, and they need to start a new gamut of four tests," said Jake Gorges of the Social Development commission.

It's part of a new system rolling out next year. The current requirements include a series of five tests, but on Dec. 13, all that changes, and if students they don't make finish in time, they will have to start over again.

"People are nervous. This is a life-changing opportunity for them, and some of them have to get 10 more points in a math test, and perhaps they may not get it before the end of the time," Gorges said.

Brent Renfro said he is confident he will pass his final two exams.

"I try to keep up on everything so there isn't that much pressure, least pressure possible at least," Renfro said.

The cost of taking the GED in 2013 is $65. In 2014, the cost goes up to $135, and according to the GED testing service, once you've completed the classes, your average lifetime earning goes up $568,000.

For Kathleen Mack, it's a fresh start toward her future. She put her education on hold to care for her disabled son who passed away last February.

"This is the next step in my personal life, in my journey, and this is where I should be at," Mack said.

The Social Development Commission said the new tests will improve skills and better prepare GED recipients for jobs.

RIGHT NOW, 43- THOUSAND PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN ARE TRYING TO FINISH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION BY GETTING A G-E-D. BUT IN A FEW WEEKS, SOME MIGHT HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN. WISN 12 NEWS REPORTER BEN HUTCHISON TELLS US WHY THE STATE IS MAKING A CHANGE. :07-:12 :39-:42 1:11-1:15 :45-:57 CHANNEL 2 AUDIO ON SOTS CLIP 156 12:20:48- 12:20.50 NATS "CREATING THAT TOPIC SENTENCE, GOT IT." STUDENTS AT THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION UNDERSTAND...THE TIME TO GET THEIR G- E-D IS NOW... 12:07.05-12:07.12 CLIP 148 GORGES - "ALL GED TEST TAKEN BETWEEN 2002 AND NOW WILL BE REPLACED AS 0'S AND THEY NEED TO START A NEW GAMETE OF FOUR TESTS." ITS PART OF A NEW SYSTEM ROLLING OUT NEXT YEAR...THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE A SERIES OF 5 TESTS...BUT ON DECEMBER 13TH, ALL THAT CHANGES...AND IF THEY DON'T MAKE IT... THEY HAVE TO START AT SQUARE ONE AGAIN. 12:09.02-12:09.12 CLIP 148 GORGES - "PEOPLE ARE NERVOUS. THIS IS A LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM AND SOME OF THEM HAVE TO GET 10 MORE POINTS IN A MATH TEST AND PERHAPS THEY MAY NOT GET IT BEFORE THE END OF THE TIME. BRENT RENFRO IS CONFIDENT HE'LL PASS HIS FINAL TWO EXAMS 12:36.24-12:36.03 /CLIP 184 RENFRO - "I TRY TO KEEP UP ON EVERYTHING SO THERE ISN'T THAT MUCH PRESSURE, LEAST PRESSURE POSSIBLE AT LEAST." BEN STANDUP CLIP 191 /12:58.34-12:58.51 HUTCHISON - "THE COST OF TAKING THE GED IN 2013...65 DOLLARS, 2014...THAT COST GOES UP TO 135 DOLLARS, AND ACCORDING TO THE GED TESTING SERVICE, ONE YOU'VE COMPLETED THE CLASSES, YOUR AVERAGE LIFETIME EARNING GOES UP 568-THOUSAND DOLLARS." FOR KATHLEEN MACK... ITS A FRESH START TOWARD HER FUTURE...AN EDUCATION PUT ON HOLD TO CARE FOR HER DISABLED SON WHO PASSED AWAY LAST FEBRUARY... 12:37.20-12:37.27 "THIS IS THE NEXT STEP IN MY PERSONAL LIFE, IN MY JOURNEY AND THIS IS WHERE I SHOULD BE AT." IN MILWAUKEE...BEN HUTCHISON...WISN 12 NEWS... THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ADDS THE NEW TESTS WILL IMPROVE SKILLS AND BETTER PREPARE G-E-D